Saturday, June 12, 2010

If the people I talk to on a regular basis are to be believed, the Harry Potter series is a big deal. While the zeitgeist seems to have shifted slightly to favor vampires over witches, obnoxious amounts of buzz still surround the final movies based on J.K. Rowling’s absurdly popular books.

In 2000, filming began on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Ten years later, principal photography just ended on the second half of Deathly Hallows (according to Screened).

While they wait for the movie’s actual release, fans can book tickets for the opening of Harry Potter Land or whatever the hell it’s called. I know several people who are planning to go. No word yet on if they’ll be taking the train or a flying car to get there.

I only read the first two books, and I didn’t see the most recent movie – so I am definitely not the target audience here. But I recognize that legions of Potter fans are aching to see the inevitably dumbed-down cinematic conclusion to this beloved series.

Still, I wonder how long we’ll remember Harry. And if it’s for more than a few years, what will we remember Rowling’s stories for? The parallel between Harry’s growth and that of the typical child reader? The crazy Hollywood finesse of keeping together a core cast for ten years (barring the unfortunate deaths of talented actors)? Or will we simply move on to the next supernatural fad?

I speak as one of the uninitiated. Potter fans, please sound off in the comments.